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Medical Author:

Robert Kacprowicz, MD, FAAEM

Robert Kacprowicz, MD, FAAEM

Robert Kacprowicz, MD, FAAEM, is board-certified in emergency medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Kacprowicz's educational background includes a BS in biology from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Vaccinations

• A vaccine is available for meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitides. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is routinely recommended for all 11- through 18-year-olds and is often administered as part of a well-child checkup at age 11-12 years of age.
  
  
  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended this vaccine for the following groups of people:
  
  
  
  • College freshmen living in dormitories
  
  
  
  • Military recruits
  
  
  
  • Your spleen has been removed or is damaged for any other reason to due to disease or injury
  
  
  
  • Have a specific blood problem called "complement deficiency"
  
  
  
  • Travelers to areas where meningitis is common
  
  
  
• The pneumonia vaccine may provide protection against some types of meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is recommended primarily for people at risk for pneumonia but may provide some protection from meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae as well. People who may benefit from the pneumonia vaccine include all people over 65 years of age, as well as
  
  
  • people with chronic lung disease,
  
  
  
  • debilitated people,
  
  
  
  • people with sickle cell anemia,
  
  
  
  • people who have had their spleen removed.
  
  
  
• Although not normally given to adults, the Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine is routinely given to children and is effective in preventing meningitis due to this type of bacteria. It is not normally given to adults but may be useful for people with the following:



• Sickle cell anemia



• Leukemia



• HIV/AIDS



• Removal of the spleen



• Bone marrow transplant



• Receiving chemotherapy for cancer